Paper and packaging giant Smurfit Kappa is to invest €24m to expand its corrugated plant in Rethel in the north east of France.
Smurfit Kappa said the new investment will facilitate the consolidation of two existing facilities at that plant and the installation of new corrugator and conversion equipment.
It said the investment will result in environmental improvements at the plant including a reduction in CO2 emissions, with a saving of at least 150 tonnes annually.
Phase one of the project, including installation of the new corrugator, is due to be completed in the first half of 2022, with full completion of the investment project expected in 2023.
Edwin Goffard, COO of Smurfit Kappa Europe - Corrugated and Converting, said the company's ambition to strengthen its position in France continues with this significant new investment.
"This investment will allow us to grow further and improve our quality of service to the food and industrial markets that we serve," he added.
Jean-Christophe Bugeon, CEO of Smurfit Kappa France, said the new investment will also help the company to tackle the ever-growing environmental issues the planet faces by significantly reducing the plant's carbon footprint.
